The training and education program has received the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) "Seal of Recognition" for meeting the guidelines set forth in AORN''s Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, the release stated.

"Proper environmental cleaning is essential for effective patient care in the operating room because high-touch surfaces can harbor infection-causing pathogens if not disinfected thoroughly, every time," said Philip C. Carling, MD, director of infectious diseases at Carney Hospital in Boston and advisor to Ecolab Healthcare.

"In fact, a recent study to determine if high-touch surfaces in the operating room were effectively disinfected found that only 25 percent (237 of 946 targeted surfaces) were cleaned properly. The study also found that enhanced staff training and education yielded significant improvements," Carling added.

According to the release, the new EnCompass O.R. program builds upon Ecolab''s comprehensive EnCompass Environmental Hygiene program for patient rooms, bringing its standardized processes, training, objective monitoring, automated reporting and effective cleaning tools and products to the operating room.